Noah's Blog

*fist-kiss* :)

Hi Noah,

The microphone on your camera is picking up some children making a lot of noise in the background that is distracting to hearing viewers of you vlog.

:)

Hi Noah.

You hit it right on by using the key word: "Empowerment!"

Many of us agree with you and Jay that it's inappropriate to assume deaf, deaf-blind, other minority groups or those from other countries need our "help" when they are capable of doing things themselves.

However, it is appropriate for us strive towards personal "empowerment" and "empowering" others. In this way we enhance the ability to live independently and improve the quality of every individual's life.

In my opinion, the best way to "help" humanity grow and thrive is to make information and education accessible. Once people have access to information that will lead toward empowerment, they will feel valued as capable citizens and take part as contributing members of our societies.

Thanks for the great reflection on this topic. :)

~ LaRonda

gosh i don't know what other i should to say....... reason u have ALOT point same my opinion. keep up with it i like watch ur interesting discuss more diffcult issues make us critical thinking and more IDEA. so KEEP UP!

Joshua "Vampbat" Womick

Thanks for the clear explanation. I agree with you about empowerment and how it can benefit each other. It has more to do with the attitude and reason behind the help and I think the example you just described is called enabling. Usually signed as hand on elbow, instead of on the hand for the sign 'help'. That has different meaning.

However, from what I can understand from Jay's vlog, he was using Deaf-Blind as just one example to support his point that we shouldn't help people (not only deaf-blind but other people too) without being asked to. That I do not fully agree with. The comments to his vlog mostly seem to respond to the deaf-blind example but not really to the general message and position he has. It was a good discussion but need to clarify the difference between enabling and helping.

You are a pastor or studying to be one, right? It made me think about the story in John chapter 13 where Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. He uses this to explain to us that we should serve each other. He did not wait for the disciples to ask him to do that. Even Peter objected saying that he didn't have to do that. There are times for offering service and other times for allowing people time to ask for help.

Rather I would be more interested in what the difference between helping and enabling is.

Good vlog! Jesus said He is not coming to be served but to serve. Jay and your vlogs made us think how to serve other.

hi Noah,Interesting about what jay said about blinddeaf.I would like to share with you about my experiences with my male friend . he was more like a Dad to me. one day, He and his wife came to my home for a visit. I showed him around the rooms with counts on the steps of upstair and downstair and counted on the walls. so He was on his own independently for a week after that. what is more. He knew how to make wooden chairs,a big wheels and some small furnitures for me to remember him by. It was amazing to watch him to work on his woods independently and passionately. even We enjoyed talking together over the bible. . he readed his own big and braille bible with me. I admire him... He passed away many years ago. I will never forget him..:) KHughes

Hi Noah,

I normally don't post any comments but this one, I feel I need to post. I read bible. It is my most loved book to read. I noticed in the bible that Messiah never helped people on his own. He would ask people what do they want from them when they came up to him. I was like wow!!! I need to back off and leave people alone. Let them come up to me and ask me for my help. Messiah was humble enough by letting people asking him to help him.

Peace out!

thanks for sharing, Noah - interesting what you shared. I had a bad experience with "mask of benevolence" a couple of years ago, and what you and Jay shared made sense.

Thanks again :)

See my blog for the link to the response for the v-log...

Thanks,
Nikki

Hi Noah,

Long time no see! I used to see you at ISD, I went to your chruch, and I taught you piano for two weeks...all back in 1996. :-)

Just wanted to say that I'm glad to see you doing well. Tell your family I said "hi" and would love to see you all again some time.

-Chris Owens